Diabetes! A silent killer, set to be the number one killer in the twenty first century.

If you are not aware of the disease, this is known as pre-diabetes and is the most dangerous period. The disease is silently killing you and you are not aware of it. Because you are not aware of it, you cannot treat it. There are various symptoms that will alert you, but are you aware of the

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases; the main factor is the sufferer has too high blood sugar levels. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the cells do not respond to insulin and the blood sugar levels increases beyond the norm.

Your body needs insulin to convert sugars and starches in your food into energy. In diabetics the body fails to produce insulin or the insulin it does produce doesn’t work properly. (Insulin resistance)

In a normal diabetic free person the body breaks down food after a meal to glucose, and then transports it by the blood through the body. Cells then convert the glucose into energy using insulin, a hormone made in the pancreas.

After we consume food some special cells in our pancreas should produce insulin. The insulin transports glucose, made from carbohydrates in the food, into the cells, where it can be used in the body for energy. Sugars and starches are the most efficient source of food energy and are carried in the blood as glucose.

In the case of diabetics insulin isn’t produced, or doesn’t work, the glucose builds up in the blood stream instead of the cells, causing the common symptoms of diabetes;

The main causes is that a diabetic does not have enough insulin, are not able to use insulin properly and as a result the blood sugar increases, while the cells starve of insulin. This causes a drastic disorder to the metabolism, which in turn causes excessive thirst and the production of large amounts of urine.

When carbohydrates cannot be converted into energy, the body becomes lethargic and you feel weak and tired, not a pleasant state of affairs.

When passing water frequently, the body flushes excess glucose, your body is trying to help you, and the underside is that you get dehydrated but this is quickly solved because you will get thirsty. The more fluids you take, the more cleansing of the kidneys and other organs take place.

You have to keep an eye on repeated infections-bugs love sugar.

Watch out for weight loss predominately in type 1 diabetes and visual changes due to temporary changes in lens shape.

Good Self-Management Skills.

Can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes complications.

Obesity is a major contributing factor of getting diabetes, and obesity is rising at an alarming rate. It is your life and you are totally responsible for your health. Take control of your health today, look around you and see the sufferings and take heed.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death and disability in people with diabetes.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the working age population.

Diabetes is the most common cause of lower limb amputations.

Studies have shown that keeping good control of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels; increasing the amount of physical activity that you engage in; eating a healthy balanced diet and stopping smoking and drinking alcohol all play a part in reducing the risk of associated diabetes complications.

Diabetes is a horrendous disease but can be managed.

The following tips will enable you to manage your diabetes.

If you are overweight, take positive steps to reduce your weight and maintain a healthy weight. This improves overall health and diabetes control.

A physical activity that is regular exercises improves insulin sensivity.

Good blood pressure levels protect the heart and kidneys. It is a very good idea to get your blood pressure checked regularly.

Get your cholesterol level checked and if it is high, statin medication will help protect the heart.

Blood glucose levels must be kept under control. Help protect the eyes, kidneys and feet.

Do not smoke. Smoking is highly damaging but much more so when combined with diabetes. Both thicken the blood, encourage plaque formation and put strain on the heart

The above facts are just the tip of the iceberg.

Diabetes is a debilitating disease and you ignore it at your peril, the repercussions are not worth thinking about.

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